Since my better(?) half is home sick, we're wasting a vacation week in mid-July going to Jersey. (I mean I luv ya honey !!). Here's the issues. Booking cheap tickets now isn't too bad - $330.00 each, but we'll need a car for the week. So let's drive the 1500 miles. Ok, the Benz can do it in 3 tankfuls up and 3+ tankfuls back with the added weight (more on that), plus a tankful driving around up there all week. So for arguement sake, with traffic,etc, 8 tankfuls there and back - $800.00 in fuel at these prices. Enter the Sentra.

The 06 Sentra 1.8 automatic will do 400 miles easily per tank on the highway. At $40 per tank of regular - 4 tanks each way plus one driving around up there, we're talking $360 in fuel there & back. Enter the added weight.....

We have a dinette set that I left there and want to bring it here. I was only able to find one shipping company that would insure the granite with shipment and it's $550. It's a 42" round granite top on a solid oak base and 2 chairs. The base will fit in the trunk and the chairs on the back seat. I'm thinking of maybe the granite on a roof rack, heavily padded & wrapped. I've been looking for roof racks and found this:
http://www.orsracksdirect.com/malone-handirack-inflatable-roof-rack-mpg452.html
It's inflatable and can hold 180lbs.
The only info I've found on getting an idea of what the top weighs is from this FORMULA FROM PYRAMIDGRANITE.COM:

The formula for computing the weight of black granite is:
[(Length-inches x Width-inches x Height-inches) ÷ 1728] x 185 = Weight of Granite.

Step one: Using inches, multiply the Length times the Width times the Height of the piece of granite.

Step two: Divide the total obtained in Step One by 1728; and

Step three: Multiply the total obtained in Step Two by 185.

Result: The number you obtain is the weight in pounds.

Problem is, it's round so length/width/height, throws me for a loop. It's 42" round by 1" thick. Going with 42" X 42", that's 188lbs. Another idea is to just box the base & chairs and ship them to myself by UPS or something but my problem is the granite. Any ideas ?

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Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
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Do I miss being a service advisor ???

The first part of that equation describes the volume of a cube: in your case you need the volume of a cylinder which is h x pi x r squared.

Your r is 21" therefore the volume is 1 x 3.14 x 21 x 21 = 1385 cu. inches

Weight is 1385/1728 x 185 = 148 lbs. That's a lot to put on top of a Sentra IMHO.

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2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester

Even if the rack can hold that I wouldnt risk damaging the car. I would see if you can find a rental car with unlimited mileage for the week, something that might accomodate the table top in back or trunk.

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Dennis
2006 E320 CDI Black/Black Leather. Nav, HTD Seats HK stereo 32000 miles.
2000 VW Passat 1.8t 300,000 miles as of Dec 09, 2009 original owner
1997 E300d Silver 300,000 miles As of Jan 05, 2010
3rd owner SOLD

The formula you showed gives you cubic inches divided by 1728 times 185.

Your 42" circle has 1385.4423807 square inches of area



and is 1" thick - so, 1385.4423807 cubic inches

1385 / 1728 = 0.80150462962962962962962962962963

0.80150462962962962962962962962963 X 185 = 148.27835648148148148148148148148

aka just under 150 pounds.

Personally, there is no way in H E Double Hockey Sticks I'd be tying that to the roof of a Sentra, inflatable roof rack or not. All that thing is going to do is give you a more stable surface on which to float the granite. Problem, as I see it, is that 150 pounds gets pretty damn heavy when it's still going down as the Sentra starts going up right as it exits that pothole or wallowed section of interstate.

I'd be worried about oil canning the roof at least, or the risk of breaking the windshield (they don't take kindly to their frames compressing too much).

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1961 220b: first project car - sold.
2000 CLK 430: first modern Benz - sold.
2001 CLK 55: OMG the torque!!! - sold
1972 280SE 4.5: Baby Gustav
1991 300TE 4Matic: Gretel the Snow Bunny - sold
1978 300SD: Katz the Free Man - given away
1980 Redhead: Darling Wife

I sure wouldn't move that granite on a roof rack. Generally, those sorts of granite pieces are shipped on edge because the material won't stand up to any sort of flexing across the flat dimension.

All you need is to hit a pothole, flex that tabletop and have it shatter on top of your car, scattering pieces of granite along the highway.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

How much was the dinette set and is it of sentimental value? I suspect the most prudent solution that is not destined to fail, would be to sell the one in NJ and buy a new dinette set in Tejas

Generic granite weighs 6lbs per sq. ft./per centimeter thickness.

Granite is rarely 1" but is possible; is usually either 2cm or 3cm (~3/4" or 1 1/4").

Based on 9.6 sq. ft. it would weigh:
2cm = 115lbs
3cm = 173lbs

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

ding ding ding ding ding. Best advice so far. You'll surely break the granite.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

My concern would be for the DYNAMIC forces at work...not just the under 180# weight of the granite slab.

Think

p = mv

which measures the momentum of a moving object

Without actually coming up with numbers, consider the momentum of a 180 lb. granite table strapped to a Sentra at highway speeds when suddenly, you have to brake hard or make an extremely evasive maneuver!! You now have a dangerously heavy granite Frisbee launched from the top of your car!

I had my old VW loaded with about 40 lbs of apartment stuff on a roof rack clamped down overhead. I had to brake hard at one point, and the ENTIRE rack, contents and all ejected several feet in front of the car!! That was scary! Can't imagine how a granite table would fare in the same situation...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Transporting flat it should be supported by a sheet of 3/4" plywood approx the same size as the top to reduce flex. You dont want padding between the two. Four 3" C-clamps will hold it down to the ply; attaching that structure to the rack safely is obviously an important consideration as is attaching the rack to the car.

FWIW, there are numerous Chinese importers selling very cheap prefab stone countertops who also bring in prefab furniture tops. Might be cheaper and easier in the long run to bring the frame home and just buy one locally.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

X2. Leo has it right. Resting horizontally, it WILL crack, nevermind the weight.

If anything, find someone with a van and ask them to transport it. Wrap it well and store on its edge for travel.

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

It's not sentimental. It's just size & color wise, it fits our place perfectly. Just throwing it out there.

__________________
Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
-
Do I miss being a service advisor ???

Your car got a trailer hitch?

Nope.....

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Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
-
Do I miss being a service advisor ???

A decent Class I hitch runs $150 - $200, and then you need a trailer. If you can borrow a trailer, it might make some financial sense.